What is our church today? What is it in the eyes of our observers? Is it a house of prayer? Not all are perceived so. It seems we are not better than those that Jesus drove out of the temple. Our churches are not far from being dens of thieves and houses of merchandise. In some cases it is physical- stealing of God’s money and properties and cornering God’s wealth to ourselves like a cohort of thieves. But also many church members and attendees are here for what they can gain and not for the worship of God. Our hearts are more about the blessings than on the sacrifice of true worship through obedience. The proportion of prayers that pour out about ourselves show that our hearts are more about what we can gain than what God could ‘gain’ from us.
Let me quickly say, Our prayers are
reflections of our hearts and they define where our best efforts will be deployed.
With this said, let us examine the content of the prayers of the first church.
- It was founded or based on their understanding that God is Almighty and Sovereign vs 24, 28. It should be that when we speak of God’s sovereignty it implies almightiness and vice versa but for clarity permit that we separate the two. Peradventure there are those who understand these by some other definitions. In God’s Almightiness He created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. Therefore, He can do all things and nothing is impossible with Him. He is Sovereign in that He works all things according to the purpose of His will and does whatever He wills in Heaven and earth Dan 4:35. There is nothing that can prevail against His purpose because nothing can escape Him. How many of us believe that God is Almighty and Sovereign. Some want Him as Almighty to serve their needs but not Sovereign to be obeyed or submitted to whatever He does or allows.
- Their prayer was for boldness to continue to be witnesses of the resurrection of Christ Jesus. They knew they could be timid in themselves but with the power of the Holy Spirit at work in them, they could face any threat. Notice that they did not ask that the threats be removed. But they asked for power by the Holy Spirit to face the threat and fulfil the commission that the LORD had given them. VS 29
- They asked that God would reveal Himself by performing signs and wonders that will prove He sent them and that they did not act on their own. VS 30, 1 Kgs 18:36
If this was their frequent prayer, no wonder we saw them unceasingly witnessing the resurrection of Christ everywhere they went. Why are we amazed that the Kingdom of God expanded through them and today we are beneficiaries of their unwavering commitment to the Great Commission.
Let me ask this church again. What are your frequent prayers? How much of unity and time do you put into your prayers on the subject of witnessing Christ among the nations? How earnest and unyielding are your persuasion on this matter? Do you really want to be effective in witnessing Christ among the nations? This church must become a house of prayer- with its primary prayer point on Missions and Evangelism and how to be effective in it.
What does the LORD require of you as His church?
- Designate more time during church meetings to praying specifically for the salvation of individuals and nations that are yet to be reached with the Gospel
- Designate time to pray for yourselves to be granted boldness to be effective witnesses of Christ wherever you find yourselves- in your neighborhood and workplaces
- Pray for workers who have gone out and for more to go out as witnesses if Christ. Pray for all believers to be on Mission with God.
Since these are in alignment to God’s will, He will answer us as we pray and we shall glorify Him with abundant fruits of souls of men and women who shall be turned from darkness into light. AMEN.
If you believe this is what would please the LORD would you stand and pray as we commit ourselves again to the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations and to preach to every soul as the LORD commanded us.